STAFF at Stockton-based NETA Training are helping electricians hone their skills for the sector.

The organisation has launched an updated practical assessment for qualifying electricians, the AM2.

NETA is one of only 41 training centres in the UK licensed to examine local apprentice electricians, who must pass the revised assessment to demonstrate that they are ready to fully qualify in the industry.

National Electrotechnical Training (NET) recently updated the assessment, which has been around for 25 years, so that it will measure candidates to today’s standards.

“Being a licensed AM2 assessment centre means we assess candidates on a critical element of the electrical industry qualification,” said Frank Ramsay, NETA chief executive. “The assessment is unique to the electrical industry and we operate to NET’s exact guidelines. We look forward to seeing the electricians of the future pass through our doors as they take the newly revised AM2 assessment. Hopefully they’ll be passing the assessment as well!

“The point of the update to the AM2 is to assess competence against industry standards at a time when the work electricians do has become more and more technical. Importantly, the update also aims to help employers and candidates work out when the candidate is ready to take the test so they have a better chance of passing first time round. The test isn’t a pushover; it’s definitely a challenge, but it has to be if it’s going to continue to be the benchmark of competence that it’s been for the last 25 years.”